President Musharraf Declares "Free Fair and Crystal Clear Election 2008''

The world community rejoiced and congratulated His Excellency President General Musharraf as he declared free, fair and crystal clear election to be held in first week of January 2008. The national and provincial assemblies, on completion of their tenure, will stand dissolved on 15 and 20 November respectively, and the Election Commission would be requested to hold the election. “I would request the Election Commission to hold election as soon as possible,” the President told reporters during a high level press conference at the Presidency in Islamabad. The President said a decision has been taken in consonance with the Chief Ministers of all four provinces to hold the election simultaneously the same day. He said the National Assembly would dissolve on November 15, while the Provincial Assemblies by November 20 so that the election could be held in the next 45 to 60 days, as required according to the Constitution. “I leave it to the Election Commission to decide the exact date.” “This is a historic moment of joy and satisfaction as the Assemblies have completed its full five year tenure for the first time in the history of our country,” he said, and added “it is the way that the things should have moved in the past and should move in the future.’’President Musharraf said he would take the oath of office as the civilian President of Pakistan soon after notification of results of the presidential election, where he got a thumping 57 per cent votes from the Parliament and four provincial assemblies. He said arrested politicians would be freed but that emergency was needed to complete the holding of free and fair election. “I would expect that all of them get released and participate in the elections, and do electioneering as per the rules given by the Election Commission of Pakistan.” “But in case they disturb law and order, and cause to create anarchy in Pakistan in the name of elections, or in the garb of democracy, then the nation will not allow that,” the President added.He said a plan had been made to strengthen the second line of Defense of Pakistan with addition of 15,000 police, 128 platoons of Frontier Corps, 7,000 Levies and 12 wings of Rangers. The President said he is always for a free but responsibly competent media that works for the integrity of Pakistan and morale of its countrymen, to make democracy function progressively. “I am for independence of media and stand by it,” he added. President Musharraf called upon the legal fraternity to understand the security threat to Pakistan and contribute their best for its integrity and safety.Year 2007 is the Diamond Jubilee of the creation of Pakistan.

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Fatimid Heritage Foundation supports heritage, education and peace activities to enhance knowledge, interfaith harmony and global pluralism. The FATIMID works to promote a more secure, equitable and prosperous world in conformity with the vision of His Highness Aga Khan. It is an expression of love and devotion Ismaili Muslims have for Aga Khan Fatimid Imam Caliph, 49th direct lineal descendant of Prophet Muhammad through his cousin and son-in-law, Aly, the first Imam-Caliph, and his wife Fatima, the Prophet's daughter. Aga Khan is the rope of love, wisdom and unity among interpretations of the Faith, and also bridge of confidence between West and Muslims. This year, the world is celebrating Golden Jubilee of the Imamat Caliphate of His Highness the Aga Khan. Year 2007 is also the Diamond Jubilee of the creation of Pakistan.Geneva Peace Development Centre (Geneva Peace) and Mountain Girls Education Development Program (MGEDP) are other development initiatives of The FATIMID. Geneva Peace is an international non-profit initiative working to promote theological and political consensus between West and Muslims, so as to enhance friendship and peace globally. The name is derived of admiration for Geneva, the city of 44 Nobel Prizes. A centre of excellence and decision-making in multiple domains, Geneva has become the principal forum of world negotiation, and a natural home to intense diplomatic and networking activity, due to the numerous International Organizations and NGOs located in the Lake Geneva area. MGEDP is a non-profit educational initiative co-founded by Anwar Merchant, Nazlin Anwar, Aziz and Shirin. Intellectual gender leadership of exceptional merit is the best motivation for future development of communities, and that mountain regions are too engulfed by poverty and hazards to develop their talented young girls as community leaders, led the family to found proposal for a network of catalytic centres of educational excellence around the mountain regions, known as the Mountain Girls Academies.The FATIMID is a Cooperating Organization with Development Gateway. Join DG communities here.